Methods and apparatus for providing a roaming support system

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of methods and apparatus for providing a roaming support system are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to wireless communicationsystems, and more particularly, to methods and apparatus for providing aroaming support system.

BACKGROUND

As technology advances to provide greater mobility and/or portability,more and more people are using wireless electronic devices for a varietyof reasons such as work, education, and/or entertainment. With theincreased popularity of wireless electronic devices, the demand forresources in wireless environments may cause network congestions andslowdowns. Thus, quality of service and performance may be degraded onthe user end.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram representation of an example wirelesscommunication system according to an embodiment of the methods andapparatus disclosed herein.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram representation of an example roaming supportsystem.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram representation of an example mobile station.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram representation of one manner in which anexample mobile station of FIG. 3 may be configured to operate in anexample roaming support system of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram representation of one manner in which anexample mobile of FIG. 3 may be configured to select a roaming supportaccess point.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram representation of one manner in which anexample mobile station of FIG. 3 may be configured to select a highdensity access point.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram representation of an example processor systemthat may be used to implement an example mobile station of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In general, methods and apparatus for providing a roaming support systemare described herein. The methods and apparatus described herein are notlimited in this regard.

Referring to FIG. 1, an example wireless communication system 100 mayinclude one or more client devices, generally shown as 110. For example,the client devices 110 may include wireless electronic devices such as alaptop computer, a handheld computer, a tablet computer, a cellulartelephone (e.g., a smart phone), a pager, an audio and/or video player(e.g., an MP3 player or a DVD player), a gaming device, a digitalcamera, a navigation device (e.g., a GPS device), a wireless peripheral(e.g., a headset, a keyboard, a mouse, etc.), a medical device (e.g., aheart rate monitor, a blood pressure monitor, etc.), and/or othersuitable mobile or portable electronic devices. Although FIG. 1 depictsnine wireless electronic devices, the wireless communication system 100may include more or less wireless electronic devices.

The client devices 110 may use a variety of modulation techniques suchas spread spectrum modulation (e.g., direct sequence code divisionmultiple access (DS-CDMA) and/or frequency hopping code divisionmultiple access (FH-CDMA)), time-division multiplexing (TDM) modulation,frequency-division multiplexing (FDM) modulation, orthogonalfrequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) modulation, multi-carriermodulation (MDM), and/or other suitable modulation techniques tocommunicate via wireless communication links.

In one example, one or more of the client devices 110 may implement OFDMmodulation to transmit large amounts of digital data by splitting aradio frequency signal into multiple small sub-signals, which in turn,are transmitted simultaneously at different frequencies. In particular,the client devices 110 may use OFDM modulation as described in the802.xx family of standards developed by the Institute of Electrical andElectronic Engineers (IEEE) and/or variations and evolutions of thesestandards (e.g., 802.11x, 802.15, 802.16x, etc.) to communicate viawireless communication links.

For example, the client devices 110 may operate in accordance with the802.16 family of standards developed by IEEE to provide for fixed,portable, and/or mobile broadband wireless access (BWA) networks (e.g.,the IEEE std. 802.16, published 2004). The client devices 110 may alsouse direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) modulation (e.g., the IEEEstd. 802.11b) and/or frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) modulation(e.g., the IEEE std. 802.11). Although the above examples are describedabove with respect to standards developed by IEEE, the methods andapparatus disclosed herein are readily applicable to many specificationsand/or standards developed by other special interest groups and/orstandard development organizations (e.g., Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi)Alliance, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) Forum,Infrared Data Association (IrDA), Third Generation Partnership Project(3GPP), etc.). For example, the client devices 110 may also operate inaccordance with other suitable wireless communication protocols thatrequire very low power such as Bluetooth®, Ultra Wideband (UWB), and/orradio frequency identification (RFID) to communicate via wireless links.

The wireless communication system 100 may also include one or morecommunication nodes with each communication node being associated withone or more communication networks. In one example, the wirelesscommunication system 100 may include one or more access points (AP),generally shown as 120 and 130, with each AP being associated with abasic service set (BSS) network. The APs 120 and 130 may be operativelycoupled to a common public or private network such as the Internet, atelephone network, a local area network (LAN), a cable network, and/oranother wireless network via connection to an Ethernet, a digitalsubscriber line (DSL), a telephone line, a coaxial cable, and/or anywireless connection, etc.

In particular, one or more APs may be a high density AP (HD-AP) 120.Each HD-AP 120 may provide wireless communication services (e.g., data,voice, and/or video transmissions) to one or more of the client devices110 within a coverage area of an HD cell, generally shown as 140. In oneexample, each of the HD cells 140 may be configured as a coverage areasmaller than a typical BSS cell to provide greater bandwidth for theclient devices 110 served by the corresponding HD-AP 120. To reduceinterference and channel contention among the client devices 110 servedby the HD-APs 120, the HD cells 140 may be configured in a manner tominimize coverage overlap. For example, the client devices 110 and/orthe HD-APs 120 may cooperatively adjust radio parameters such astransmission power, reception sensitivity, clear-channel-assessmentthreshold, etc. Although FIG. 1 depicts fifteen HD-APs, the wirelesscommunication system 100 may include more or less HD-APs. Accordingly,the wireless communication system 100 may include more or less HD cells.

Although HD-APs 120 may improve channel capacity performance and datathroughput by providing wireless communication services to a smallernumber of client devices 110, handovers between the HD-APs 120 may occurfrequently to accommodate moving client devices 110. For example, theclient devices 110 may roam on a more frequency basis relative to HDcells 140 because of the smaller coverage area of each HD-AP 120.

In the wireless communication system 100, one or more APs may be aroaming support AP (RS-AP) 130. Each RS-AP 130 may provide wirelesscommunication services (e.g., data, voice, and/or video transmissions)to the client devices 110 within a coverage area of an RS cell,generally shown as 150. The RS cell 150 may entirely or partiallyencompass one or more of the HD cells 140. That is, the coverage area ofeach HD cell 140 is relatively smaller than the coverage area of the RScell 150. Accordingly, the coverage area of the RS cell 150 may entirelyor partially include one or more coverage areas of the HD cells 140.Further, the coverage area of the RS cell 150 may also include one ormore areas that are not covered by any of the HD cells 140 (e.g., non-HDcell areas), generally shown as 160. Thus, the RS cell 150 may provideseamless roaming when the client devices 110 are moving in or out of theHD cells 140 and the non-HD cell areas 160 whereas the HD cells 140 mayprovide increased data throughput when the client devices 110 arerelatively stationary. Although FIG. 1 depicts one RS-AP, the wirelesscommunication system 100 may include more RS-APs. Accordingly, thewireless communication system 100 may include more RS cells.

Although the above examples described an HD-AP and an RS-AP as separatedevices, an AP may be configured to operate as an HD-AP and/or RS-AP.For example, the AP may initially operate as an HD-AP via a firstchannel and then switch to operate as an RS-AP via a second channel, orvice versa.

While the above examples are described with respect to APs, the methodsand apparatus described herein may applicable to mesh points, basestations, and/or other suitable communication nodes. For example, thewireless communication system 100 may also include one or more radioaccess networks (RANs) such as a cellular radio network. The RAN mayinclude one or more base stations, and other radio components necessaryto provide communication services to the client devices 110. The basestations may operate in accordance with the applicable standard(s) forproviding wireless communication services to the client devices 110.That is, one or more of the client devices 110 may be configured tooperate in accordance with one or more of several wireless communicationprotocols to communicate with the base stations.

The wireless communication protocols may be based on analog, digital,and/or dual-mode communication system standards that use multiple accesstechniques such as frequency division multiple access (FDMA), timedivision multiple access (TDMA), and/or code division multiple access(CDMA). For example, the wireless communication protocols may includeGlobal System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Wideband CDMA (W-CDMA),General Packet Radio Services (GPRS), Enhanced Data GSM Environment(EDGE), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), High-SpeedDownlink Packet Access (HSDPA), variations and evolutions of thesestandards, and/or other suitable wireless communication standards.

Further, the wireless communication system 100 may include otherwireless personal area network (WPAN) devices, wireless local areanetwork (WLAN) devices, wireless metropolitan area network (WMAN)devices, and/or wireless wide area network (WWAN) devices such asnetwork interface devices and peripherals (e.g., network interface cards(NICs)), access points (APs), gateways, bridges, hubs, etc. to implementa cellular telephone system, a satellite system, a personalcommunication system (PCS), a two-way radio system, a one-way pagersystem, a two-way pager system, a personal computer (PC) system, apersonal data assistant (PDA) system, a personal computing accessory(PCA) system, and/or any other suitable communication system (notshown). Accordingly, the wireless communication system 100 may beimplemented to provide WPANs, WLANs, WMANs, WWANs, and/or other suitablewireless communication networks. Although certain examples have beendescribed above, the scope of coverage of this disclosure is not limitedthereto.

In the example of FIG. 2, a roaming support system 200 may include amobile station (MS) 210 (e.g., one of the client devices 110 of FIG. 1).The MS 210 may be a wireless electronic device such as a laptopcomputer, a handheld computer, a tablet computer, a cellular telephone(e.g., a smart phone), a pager, an audio and/or video player (e.g., anMP3 player or a DVD player), a gaming device, a digital camera, anavigation device (e.g., a GPS device), a wireless peripheral (e.g., aheadset, a keyboard, a mouse, etc.), a medical device (e.g., a heartrate monitor, a blood pressure monitor, etc.), and/or other combinationthereof. Although FIG. 2 depicts one MS, the roaming support system 200may include additional MS.

The roaming support system 200 may also include one or more HD-APs,generally shown as 222, 224, and 226, and one or more RS-APs, generallyshown as 232, 234, and 236. As noted above, each of the HD-APs 222, 224,and 226 may provide wireless communication services within a coveragearea of an HD cell (e.g., generally shown as 140 in FIG. 1). Each of theRS-APs 232, 234, and 236 may provide wireless communication serviceswithin a coverage area of an RS cell (e.g., generally shown as 150 inFIG. 1). For example, the wireless communication services provided bythe HD-APs 222, 224, and 226 and the RS-APs 232, 234, and 236 mayinclude data, voice, and/or video transmissions such as voice overInternet Protocol (VoIP), video streaming, etc.). Although FIG. 2depicts three HD-APs, the roaming support system 200. may include moreor less HD-APs. Likewise, the roaming support system 200 may alsoinclude more or less RS-APs.

In one example, the MS 210 may initially associate with one of theHD-APs such as the HD-AP 224 (e.g., the associated AP). Accordingly, theMS 210 and the HD-AP 224 may be communicatively coupled to the eachother so that the HD-AP 224 may provide wireless communication servicesto the MS 210. An initial AP association may occur when the MS 210 isnot associated with any other APs (e.g., during power up of the MS 210).

The MS 210 may receive neighbor AP information from the HD-AP 224 (e.g.,via a neighbor AP report). In one example, the MS 210 may request forthe neighbor AP report from the HD-AP 224. In addition or alternatively,the HD-AP 224 may automatically provide the neighbor AP report to the MS210. The neighbor AP report from the HD-AP 224 may include informationassociated with one or more neighboring HD-APs and/or RS-APs relative tothe HD-AP 224.

For example, the neighbor AP report from the HD-AP 224 may includeinformation associated with HD-APs and/or RS-APs that may be physicallyadjacent to the HD-AP 224, within line-of-sight of the HD-AP 224,communicatively coupled to the HD-AP 224, and/or within other suitableproximity relative to the HD-AP 224. In one example, the neighbor APreport from the HD-AP 224 may include information associated with theHD-AP 222 and/or the HD-AP 226. The neighbor AP report may also includeinformation associated with HD cells corresponding to the HD-AP 222and/or the HD-AP 226. In a similar manner, the neighbor AP report fromthe HD-AP 224 may also include information associated with the RS-AP232, the RS-AP 234, and/or the RS-AP 236, and corresponding RS cells.

Based on the neighbor AP report, the MS 210 may generate and/or update apreferred HD-AP list (e.g., the HD-AP list 372 of FIG. 3) and apreferred RS-AP list (e.g., the RS-AP. list 374 of FIG. 3). As describedin detail below, the preferred HD-AP list may include one or more HD-APsfor the MS 210 to select from for wireless communication services. Forexample, the preferred HD-AP list may include the HD-AP 222 and/or 226based on the neighbor AP report from the HD-AP 224. Likewise, thepreferred RS-AP list may include one or more RS-APs for the MS 210 toselect from for wireless communication services. For example, thepreferred RS-AP list may include the RS-APs 232, 234, and/or 236 basedon the neighbor AP report from the HD-AP 224. Although the above exampleHD-AP list and RS-AP list are described with respect to proximity ofneighbor APs relative to the HD-AP 224, the methods and apparatusdisclosed herein may generate the preferred HD-AP list and the preferredRS-AP list based on other suitable parameters such as transmissionpower, channel capacity, etc. of APs that may provide wirelesscommunication services to the MS 210.

As noted above, an RS-AP (e.g., the RS-AP 234) may provide seamlessroaming when the MS 210 are moving in or out of the HD cells and thenon-HD cell areas whereas an HD-AP (e.g., the HD-AP 224) may provideincreased data throughput when the MS 210 is relatively stationary. Toselect an HD-AP or an RS-AP for wireless communication services, the MS210 may also generate a beacon table (e.g., the beacon table 382 of FIG.3) and a roaming table (e.g., the roaming table 384 of FIG. 3) based onthe neighbor AP report. In particular, the beacon table may include anAP identifier (e.g., BSSID) associated with each neighbor HD cell, areceived signal strength indication (RSSI) value of a beacon or proberesponse associated with each BSSID, a counter indicative of a totalnumber of changes in the maximum RSSI value (RSSI-change counter), and amaximum RSSI identifier (e.g., BSSID-MAX) corresponding to the BSSIDwith the maximum RSSI. In one example, the beacon table may include aBSSID for each of the HD-APs 222 and 226. The RSSI value may be ameasure by the physical (PHY) layer of the energy observed at an antennaof the MS 210 (e.g., the antenna 316 of FIG. 3). The RSSI-change countermay be initially calibrated to zero. After each beacon scanning, theRSSI-change counter may increment by one if the BSSID-MAX changes. Forexample, the RSSI-change counter may increment by one if the BSSID-MAXchanged from the BSSID of the HD-AP 222 to the BSSID of the HD-AP 226.

The roaming table may include a BSSID associated with each neighbor HDcell as in the beacon table. The roaming table may also include atimestamp associated with each BSSID and a roaming counter correspondingto a total number of HD cell handovers (e.g., handovers between theHD-APs 222, 224, and 226). In particular, the roaming counter mayindicate a number of handovers as the MS 210 moves from one HD cell toanother HD cell for a predefined time period (e.g., via the timestamps).After each handover, the roaming counter may increment by one. Forexample, the roaming counter may increment by one if the MS 210 movedfrom the HD cell corresponding to the HD-AP 222 to the HD cellcorresponding to the HD-AP 226.

Based on the HD-AP list, the RS-AP list, the beacon table, and/or theroaming table, the MS 210 may reduce handovers and enable seamlessroaming as described in detail below. In particular, the MS 210 mayselect an HD-AP for wireless communication services whereas beingrelatively stationary to achieve greater data throughput. Alternatively,the MS 210 may select an RS-AP to roam seamlessly within a correspondingRS cell that includes one or more HD cells and non-HD cell areas. Themethods and apparatus described herein are not limited this regard.

Turning to FIG. 3, an MS 300 (e.g., the MS 210 of FIG. 2) may include acommunication interface 310, an AP identifier 320, an AP selector 330,and a memory 340. Although FIG. 3 depicts components of the MS 300coupling to each other via a bus 350, these components may beoperatively coupled to each other via other suitable direct or indirectconnections (e.g., a point-to-point connection).

The communication interface 310 may include a receiver 312, atransmitter 314, and an antenna 316. The communication interface 310 mayreceive and/or transmit data via the receiver 312 and the transmitter314, respectively. The antenna 316 may include one or more directionalor omni-directional antennas such as dipole antennas, monopole antennas,patch antennas, loop antennas, microstrip antennas, and/or other typesof antennas suitable for transmission of radio frequency (RF) signals.Although FIG. 3 depicts a single antenna, the MS 300 may includeadditional antennas. For example, the MS 300 may include a plurality ofantennas to implement a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) system.

As described in detail below, the AP identifier 320 may a plurality ofHD-APs and a plurality of RS-APs that the MS 300 may select from forwireless communication services. In particular, the AP identifier 320may include a list generator 362 and a table generator 364. The listgenerator 362 may generate and/or update an HD-AP list 372 and an RS-APlist 374. The HD-AP list 372 and the RS-AP list 374 may be stored in thememory 350. The table generator 364 may generate a beacon table 382 anda roaming table 384. The beacon table 382 and the roaming table 384 maybe stored in the memory 350.

The AP selector 330 may select an HD-AP from the HD-AP list 372 or anRS-AP from the RS-AP list 374 based on the beacon table 382 and/or theroaming table 384. For example, an RS-AP from the RS-AP list 374 mayprovide seamless roaming when the MS 300 are moving in or out of HDcells and non-HD cell areas whereas an HD-AP from the HD-AP list 372 mayprovide increased data throughput when the MS 300 is relativelystationary.

While the components shown in FIG. 3 are depicted as separate blockswithin the MS 300, the functions performed by some of these blocks maybe integrated within a single semiconductor circuit or may beimplemented using two or more separate integrated circuits. For example,although the receiver 312 and the transmitter 314 are depicted asseparate blocks within the communication interface 310, the receiver 312may be integrated into the transmitter 314 (e.g., a transceiver). In asimilar manner, the list generator 362 and the table generator 364within the AP identifier 320 may be integrated into a single component.In another example, although the AP identifier 320 and the AP selector330 are depicted as separate blocks, the AP identifier 320 and the APselector 330 may be integrated into a single component. The methods andapparatus described herein are not limited in this regard.

FIG. 4 depicts one manner in which the example MS 300 of FIG. 3 may beconfigured to operate in a roaming support system. The example process400 of FIG. 4 may be implemented as machine-accessible instructionsutilizing any of many different programming codes stored on anycombination of machine-accessible media such as a volatile ornonvolatile memory or other mass storage device (e.g., a floppy disk, aCD, and a DVD). For example, the machine-accessible instructions may beembodied in a machine-accessible medium such as a programmable gatearray, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an erasableprogrammable read only memory (EPROM), a read only memory (ROM), arandom access memory (RAM), a magnetic media, an optical media, and/orany other suitable type of medium.

Further, although a particular order of actions is illustrated in FIG.4, these actions may be performed in other temporal sequences. Again,the example process 400 is merely provided and described in conjunctionwith the apparatus of FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 as an example of one way toconfigure a mobile station to operate in the roaming support system 200.

In the example of FIG. 4, the process 400 may begin with the MS 300associating with an AP (e.g., the associated AP) (block 410). Forexample, the MS 300 may associate with an HD-AP during an initial APassociation. In one example, the MS 210 may communicate with the HD-AP224 to establish wireless communication.

The MS 300 (e.g., via the communication interface 310) may receiveneighbor AP information from the associated AP (block 420). The neighborAP information may include information associated with HD-APs and/orRS-APs that may be physically adjacent to the associated AP, withinline-of-sight of the associated AP, communicatively coupled to theassociated AP, and/or within other suitable proximity relative to theassociated AP. In one example, the MS 210 may receive a neighbor APreport from the HD-AP 224 with information associated with the HD-APs222 and/or 226, and/or the RS-APs 232, 234, and/or 236.

Based on the neighbor AP information, the MS 300 (e.g., via the APidentifier 320) may identify one or more HD-APs and RS-APs to selectfrom for wireless communication services. In particular, the MS 300(e.g., via the list generator 362) may generate or update the HD-AP list372 and the RS-AP list 374 (block 430). In one example, the HD-AP listfrom the HD-AP 224 may include the HD-AP 222 and the HD-AP 226. TheRS-AP list from the HD-AP 224 may include the RS-AP 232, the RS-AP 234,and the RS-AP 236.

The MS 300 (e.g., via the table generator 364) may generate the beacontable 382 and the roaming table 384 (block 440). The beacon table 382and the roaming table 384 may include information for the MS 300 toselect an HD-AP or an RS-AP for wireless communication services.

The MS 300 may determine whether the associated AP from block 410 is anHD-AP (block 450). In one example, the associated AP may initially be anHD-AP. Accordingly, control may proceed to an RS-AP selection process500. In general, the RS-AP selection process 500 may determine whetherto connect to an RS-AP to establish wireless communication services forthe MS 300.

Turning to FIG. 5, the process 500 may begin with the MS 300 determiningwhether the roaming counter is greater than a predefined roamingthreshold during a predefined time period based on the roaming table 384(block 510). If the roaming counter is greater than the roamingthreshold, control may proceed to block 540 to scan the RS-AP list 374.Based on the RS-AP list 374, the MS 300 may select an RS-AP for wirelesscommunication services (block 550). Accordingly, a handover from theassociated AP (e.g., an HD-AP) to the selected RS-AP may occur. In oneexample, the associated AP may be the HD-AP 224. The MS 210 may selectthe RS-AP 234, and thus, a handover from the HD-AP 224 to the RS-AP 234may occur so that the RS-AP 234 may provide wireless communicationservices to the MS 210. The process 500 may terminate and control mayreturn to block 420 of FIG. 4.

Otherwise if the roaming counter is less than or equal to the roamingthreshold at block 510, control may proceed to block 520 to determinewhether the RSSI-change counter is greater than a predefined RSSI-changethreshold based on the beacon table 382. As noted above, the RSSI-changecounter may indicate a total number of changes in the maximum RSSIvalue. If the RSSI-change counter is greater than the RSSI-changethreshold, control may proceed directly to blocks 540 and 550 asdescribed above. Accordingly, the selected RS-AP from block 550 mayprovide the MS 300 with wireless communication services. Otherwise ifthe RSSI-change counter is less than or equal to the RSSI-changethreshold, the MS 300 may monitor for a handover message to switch to anRS-AP from the associated AP (block 530).

If the MS 300 receives a handover message from the associated AP,control may proceed to blocks 540 and 550 as described above. Theselected RS-AP may provide the MS 300 with wireless communicationservices. Otherwise if the MS 300 fails to receive a handover messagefrom the associated AP, the process 500 may terminate and control mayreturn to block 420 of FIG. 4. Thus, the associated AP may continue toprovide the MS 300 with wireless communication services. The methods andapparatus described herein are not limited in this regard.

Referring back to block 450 of FIG. 4, if the associated AP is not anHD-AP, control may proceed to an HD-AP selection process 600. Ingeneral, the HD-AP selection process 600 may determine whether toconnect to an HD-AP to establish wireless communication services for theMS 300.

In the example of FIG. 6, the process 600 may begin with the MS 300determining whether the RSSI-change counter has changed based on thebeacon table 382 (block 610). As noted above, the RSSI-change countermay increment by one if the BSSID-MAX changes after a beacon scanning.If the RSSI-change counter has not changed, control may proceed to block640 to scan the HD-AP list 372. Based on the HD-AP list 372, the MS 300may select an HD-AP for wireless communication services (block 650). Inone example, the associated AP may be the RS-AP 234, and the MS 210 mayselect the HD-AP 222. Accordingly, a handover from the RS-AP 234 to theHD-AP 222 may occur so that the HD-AP 222 may provide wirelesscommunication services to the MS 210. The process 600 may terminate andcontrol may return to block 420 of FIG. 4.

Otherwise if the RSSI-change counter has changed at block 610, controlmay proceed to block 620 to determine whether the location of the MS 300has changed for a predefined time period. If the location of the MS 300has not changed, control may proceed directly to blocks 640 and 650 asdescribed above. Accordingly, the selected HD-AP from block 650 mayprovide the MS 300 with wireless communication services. Otherwise ifthe location of the MS 300 has changed, the MS 300 may monitor for ahandover message to switch to an HD-AP from the associated AP (block530).

If the MS 300 receives a handover message from the associated AP,control may proceed to blocks 640 and 650 as described above. Theselected HD-AP from block 650 may provide the MS 300 with wirelesscommunication services. Otherwise if the MS 300 fails to receive ahandover message from the associated AP, the process 600 may terminateand control may return to block 420 of FIG. 4. Thus, the associated APmay continue to provide the MS 300 with wireless communication services.The methods and apparatus described herein are not limited in thisregard.

While the methods and apparatus disclosed herein are described in FIGS.4, 5, and 6 to operate in a particular manner, the methods and apparatusdisclosed herein are readily applicable without certain blocks depictedin FIGS. 4, 5, and 6. Further, although the methods and apparatusdisclosed herein are described with respect to APs and BSS networks, themethods and apparatus disclosed herein are readily applicable to manyother types of wireless communication systems (e.g., WPANs, WLANs,WMANs, and/or WWANs). In one example, the methods and apparatusdisclosed herein may be applicable to base stations and RANs. Themethods and apparatus described herein are not limited in this regard.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an example processor system 2000 adapted toimplement the methods and apparatus disclosed herein. The processorsystem 2000 may be a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a handheldcomputer, a tablet computer, a PDA, a server, an Internet appliance,and/or any other type of computing device.

The processor system 2000 illustrated in FIG. 7 includes a chipset 2010,which includes a memory controller 2012 and an input/output (I/O)controller 2014. The chipset 2010 may provide memory and I/O managementfunctions as well as a plurality of general purpose and/or specialpurpose registers, timers, etc. that are accessible or used by aprocessor 2020. The processor 2020 may be implemented using one or moreprocessors, WLAN components, WMAN components, WWAN components, and/orother suitable processing components. For example, the processor 2020may be implemented using one or more of the Intel® Pentium® technology,the Intel® Itanium® technology, the Intel® Centrino™ technology, theIntel® Xeon™ technology, and/or the Intel® XScale® technology. In thealternative, other processing technology may be used to implement theprocessor 2020. The processor 2020 may include a cache 2022, which maybe implemented using a first-level unified cache (L1), a second-levelunified cache (L2), a third-level unified cache (L3), and/or any othersuitable structures to store data.

The memory controller 2012 may perform functions that enable theprocessor 2020 to access and communicate with a main memory 2030including a volatile memory 2032 and a non-volatile memory 2034 via abus 2040. The volatile memory 2032 may be implemented by SynchronousDynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM), Dynamic Random Access Memory(DRAM), RAMBUS Dynamic Random Access Memory (RDRAM), and/or any othertype of random access memory device. The non-volatile memory 2034 may beimplemented using flash memory, Read Only Memory (ROM), ElectricallyErasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM), and/or any otherdesired type of memory device.

The processor system 2000 may also include an interface circuit 2050that is coupled to the bus 2040. The interface circuit 2050 may beimplemented using any type of interface standard such as an Ethernetinterface, a universal serial bus (USB), a third generation input/outputinterface (3GIO) interface, and/or any other suitable type of interface.

One or more input devices 2060 may be connected to the interface circuit2050. The input device(s) 2060 permit an individual to enter data andcommands into the processor 2020. For example, the input device(s) 2060may be implemented by a keyboard, a mouse, a touch-sensitive display, atrack pad, a track ball, an isopoint, and/or a voice recognition system.

One or more output devices 2070 may also be connected to the interfacecircuit 2050. For example, the output device(s) 2070 may be implementedby display devices (e.g., a light emitting display (LED), a liquidcrystal display (LCD), a cathode ray tube (CRT) display, a printerand/or speakers). The interface circuit 2050 may include, among otherthings, a graphics driver card.

The processor system 2000 may also include one or more mass storagedevices 2080 to store software and data. Examples of such mass storagedevice(s) 2080 include floppy disks and drives, hard disk drives,compact disks and drives, and digital versatile disks (DVD) and drives.

The interface circuit 2050 may also include a communication device suchas a modem or a network interface card to facilitate exchange of datawith external computers via a network. The communication link betweenthe processor system 2000 and the network may be any type of networkconnection such as an Ethernet connection, a digital subscriber line(DSL), a telephone line, a cellular telephone system, a coaxial cable,etc.

Access to the input device(s) 2060, the output device(s) 2070, the massstorage device(s) 2080 and/or the network may be controlled by the I/Ocontroller 2014. In particular, the I/O controller 2014 may performfunctions that enable the processor 2020 to communicate with the inputdevice(s) 2060, the output device(s) 2070, the mass storage device(s)2080 and/or the network via the bus 2040 and the interface circuit 2050.

While the components shown in FIG. 7 are depicted as separate blockswithin the processor system 2000, the functions performed by some ofthese blocks may be integrated within a single semiconductor circuit ormay be implemented using two or more separate integrated circuits. Forexample, although the memory controller 2012 and the I/O controller 2014are depicted as separate blocks within the chipset 2010, the memorycontroller 2012 and the I/O controller 2014 may be integrated within asingle semiconductor circuit.

Although certain example methods, apparatus, and articles of manufacturehave been described herein, the scope of coverage of this disclosure isnot limited thereto. On the contrary, this disclosure covers allmethods, apparatus, and articles of manufacture fairly falling withinthe scope of the appended claims either literally or under the doctrineof equivalents. For example, although the above discloses examplesystems including, among other components, software or firmware executedon hardware, it should be noted that such systems are merelyillustrative and should not be considered as limiting. In particular, itis contemplated that any or all of the disclosed hardware, software,and/or firmware components could be embodied exclusively in hardware,exclusively in software, exclusively in firmware or in some combinationof hardware, software, and/or firmware.

1. A method comprising: identifying a first plurality of communicationnodes and a second plurality of communication nodes, each of the firstplurality of communication nodes being associated with a first wirelesscoverage characteristic area and each of the second plurality ofcommunication nodes being associated with a second wireless coveragecharacteristic area; and selecting a communication node from one of thefirst plurality of communication nodes or the second plurality ofcommunication nodes to associate with for wireless communication,wherein the first wireless coverage characteristic area is relativelysmaller than the second wireless coverage characteristic area, andwherein the second wireless coverage characteristic area overlaps one ormore first wireless coverage characteristic areas.
 2. A method asdefined in claim 1, wherein identifying the first plurality ofcommunication nodes and the second plurality of communication nodescomprises identifying a plurality of high density access points and aplurality of roaming support access points, each high density accesspoint being associated with a high density cell and each roaming supportaccess point being associated with a roaming support cell.
 3. A methodas defined in claim 1, wherein identifying the first plurality ofcommunication nodes and the second plurality of communication nodescomprises identifying at least one of a plurality of mesh points or aplurality of base stations.
 4. A method as defined in claim 1, whereinidentifying the first plurality of communication nodes and the secondplurality of communication nodes comprises generating a first list and asecond list based on information associated with one or more neighboringcommunication nodes, and wherein the first list is associated with thefirst plurality of communication nodes and the second list is associatedwith the second plurality of communication nodes.
 5. A method as definedin claim 1, wherein selecting the communication node to associate withfor wireless communication comprises generating a beacon table, andwherein the beacon table includes at least one of a basic service setidentifier (BSSID) associated with each of the plurality of high densitycells, a received signal strength indication (RSSI) value of a beaconmessage associated with the BSSID, or a counter indicative of a totalnumber of changes in the maximum RSSI value.
 6. A method as defined inclaim 1, wherein selecting the communication node to associate with forwireless communication comprises generating a roaming table, and whereinthe roaming table includes at least one of a basic service setidentifier (BSSID) associated with each of the plurality of high densitycells, a timestamp associated with the BSSID, or a counter indicative ofa total number of handovers between high density access points.
 7. Amethod as defined in claim 1, wherein selecting the communication nodeto associate with for wireless communication comprises selecting one ofa plurality of high density access points in response to one of acondition indicative of failure to detect a change in the maximumreceived signal strength indication value, a condition indicative offailure to detect a change in location of a mobile station, or receiptof a handover message from a roaming support access point.
 8. A methodas defined in claim 1, wherein selecting the communication node toassociate with for wireless communication comprises selecting one of aplurality of roaming support access points in response to one of acondition indicative of exceeding a threshold of changes in the maximumreceived signal strength indication value, a condition indicative ofexceeding a threshold of handovers between high density access points,or receipt of a handover message from a high density access point.
 9. Anarticle of manufacture including content, which when accessed, causes amachine to: identify a first plurality of communication nodes and asecond plurality of communication nodes, each of the first plurality ofcommunication nodes being associated with a first wireless coveragecharacteristic area and each of the second plurality of communicationnodes being associated with a second wireless coverage characteristicarea; and select a communication node from one of the first plurality ofcommunication nodes or the second plurality of communication nodes toassociate with for wireless communication, wherein the first wirelesscoverage characteristic area is relatively smaller than the secondwireless coverage characteristic area, and wherein the second wirelesscoverage characteristic area overlaps one or more first wirelesscoverage characteristic areas.
 10. An article of manufacture as definedin claim 9, wherein the content, when accessed, causes the machine toidentify the first plurality of communication nodes and the secondplurality of communication nodes by identifying a plurality of highdensity access points and a plurality of roaming support access points,and wherein each high density access point is associated with a highdensity cell and each roaming support access point is associated with aroaming support cell.
 11. An article of manufacture as defined in claim9, wherein the content, when accessed, causes the machine to identifythe first plurality of communication nodes and the second plurality ofcommunication nodes by generating a first list and a second list basedon information associated with one or more neighboring communicationnodes, and wherein the first list is associated with the first pluralityof communication nodes and the second list is associated with the secondplurality of communication nodes.
 12. An article of manufacture asdefined in claim 9, wherein the content, when accessed, causes themachine to select the communication node to associate with for wirelesscommunication by generating a beacon table, and wherein the beacon tableincludes at least one of a basic service set identifier (BSSID)associated with each of the plurality of high density cells, a receivedsignal strength indication (RSSI) value of a beacon message associatedwith each BSSID, or a counter indicative of a total number of changes inthe maximum RSSI value.
 13. An article of manufacture as defined inclaim 9, wherein the content, when accessed, causes the machine toselect the communication node to associate with for wirelesscommunication by generating a roaming table, and wherein the roamingtable includes at least one of a basic service set identifier (BSSID)associated with each of the plurality of high density cells, a timestampassociated with the BSSID, or a counter indicative of a total number ofhandovers between high density access points.
 14. An article ofmanufacture as defined in claim 9, wherein the content, when accessed,causes the machine to select the communication node to associate withfor wireless communication by selecting one of a plurality of highdensity access points in response to one of a condition indicative offailure to detect a change in the maximum received signal strengthindication value, a condition indicative of failure to detect a changein location of a mobile station, or receipt of a handover message from aroaming support access point.
 15. An article of manufacture as definedin claim 9, wherein the content, when accessed, causes the machine toselect the communication node to associate with for wirelesscommunication by selecting one of a plurality of roaming support accesspoints in response to one of a condition indicative of exceeding athreshold of changes in the maximum received signal strength indicationvalue, a condition indicative of exceeding a threshold of handoversbetween high density access points, or receipt of a handover messagefrom a high density access point.
 16. An apparatus comprising: acommunication interface; a communication node identifier operativelycoupled to the communication interface to identify a first plurality ofcommunication nodes and a second plurality of communication nodes, eachof the first plurality of communication nodes being associated with afirst wireless coverage characteristic area and each of the secondplurality of communication nodes being associated with a second wirelesscoverage characteristic area; and a communication node selectoroperatively coupled to the communication node identifier to select acommunication node from one of the first plurality of communicationnodes or the second plurality of communication nodes to associate withfor wireless communication, wherein the first wireless coveragecharacteristic area is relatively smaller than the second wirelesscoverage characteristic area, and wherein the second wireless coveragecharacteristic area overlaps one or more first wireless coveragecharacteristic areas.
 17. An apparatus as defined in claim 16, whereinthe communication node identifier is configured to identify a pluralityof high density access points and a plurality of roaming support accesspoints, and wherein each high density access point is associated with ahigh density cell and each roaming support access point is associatedwith a roaming support cell.
 18. An apparatus as defined in claim 16,wherein the communication node identifier is configured to identify oneof a plurality of mesh points, or a plurality of base stations.
 19. Anapparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein the communication nodeidentifier comprises a list generator to generate a first list and asecond list based on information associated with one or more neighboringcommunication nodes, and wherein the first list is associated with thefirst plurality of communication nodes and the second list is associatedwith the second plurality of communication nodes.
 20. An apparatus asdefined in claim 16, wherein the communication node identifier comprisesa table generator to generate a beacon table, and wherein the beacontable includes at least one of a basic service set identifier (BSSID)associated with each of the plurality of high density cells, a receivedsignal strength indication (RSSI) value of a beacon message associatedwith the BSSID, or a counter indicative of a total number of changes inthe maximum RSSI value.
 21. An apparatus as defined in claim 16, whereinthe communication node identifier comprises a table generator togenerate a roaming table, and wherein the roaming table includes atleast one of a basic service set identifier (BSSID) associated with eachof the plurality of high density cells, a timestamp associated with theBSSID, or a counter indicative of a total number of handovers betweenhigh density access points.
 22. An apparatus as defined in claim 16,wherein the communication node selector is configured to select one of aplurality of high density access points in response to one of acondition indicative of failure to detect a change in the maximumreceived signal strength indication value, a condition indicative offailure to detect a change in location of a mobile station, or receiptof a handover message from a roaming support access point.
 23. Anapparatus as defined in claim 16, wherein the communication nodeselector is configured to select one of a plurality of roaming supportaccess points in response to one of a condition indicative of exceedinga threshold of changes in the maximum received signal strengthindication value, a condition indicative of exceeding a threshold ofhandovers between high density access points, or receipt of a handovermessage from a high density access point.
 24. A system comprising: aflash memory; and a processor coupled to the flash memory to identify afirst plurality of communication nodes and a second plurality ofcommunication nodes, and to identify a communication node from one ofthe first plurality of communication nodes or the second plurality ofcommunication nodes to associate with for wireless communication,wherein each of the first plurality of communication nodes is associatedwith a first wireless coverage characteristic area and each of thesecond plurality of communication nodes is associated with a secondwireless coverage characteristic area, and wherein the first wirelesscoverage characteristic area is relatively smaller than the secondwireless coverage characteristic area, and wherein the second wirelesscoverage characteristic area overlaps one or more first wirelesscoverage characteristic areas.
 25. A system as defined in claim 24,wherein the processor is configured to identify a plurality of highdensity access points and a plurality of roaming support access points,and wherein each high density access point is associated with a highdensity cell and each roaming support access point is associated with aroaming support cell.
 26. A system as defined in claim 24, wherein theprocessor is configured to generate a first list and a second list basedon information associated with one or more neighboring communicationnodes, and wherein the first list is associated with the first pluralityof communication nodes and the second list is associated with the secondplurality of communication nodes.
 27. A system as defined in claim 24,wherein the processor is configured to generate a beacon table includinginformation associated with a plurality of high density cells, andwherein the beacon table includes at least one of a basic service setidentifier (BSSID) associated with each of the plurality of high densitycells, a received signal strength indication (RSSI) value of a beaconmessage associated with the BSSID, or a counter indicative of a totalnumber of changes in the maximum RSSI value.
 28. A system as defined inclaim 24, wherein the processor is configured to generate a roamingtable including information associated with a plurality of high densitycells, and wherein the roaming table includes at least one of a basicservice set identifier (BSSID) associated with each of the plurality ofhigh density cells, a timestamp associated with the BSSID, or a counterindicative of a total number of handovers between high density accesspoints.
 29. A system as defined in claim 24, wherein the processor isconfigured to select one of a plurality of high density access points inresponse to one of a condition indicative of failure to detect a changein the maximum received signal strength indication value, a conditionindicative of failure to detect a change in location of a mobilestation, or receipt of a handover message from a roaming support accesspoint.
 30. A system as defined in claim 24, wherein the processor isconfigured to select one of a plurality of roaming support access pointsin response to one of a condition indicative of exceeding a threshold ofchanges in the maximum received signal strength indication value, acondition indicative of exceeding a threshold of handovers between highdensity access points, or receipt of a handover message from a highdensity access point.